This Memorial Day, the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in downtown Galax will honor a native of the city and a true hero.

The chapter will dedicate a special memorial to Sgt. Major Charles Morris, who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor — the nation’s highest honor for military bravery — in November 1967 for his effort to save his fellow soldiers pinned down by enemy fire.

HILLSVILLE –– The season is getting short, but if there is any justice in the world, Carroll County and pitcher Drew Webb will have a day similar to their last two district outings and actually be able to feel good about it when it’s over.

A week after holding Richlands to four hits in a 5-4 loss, Webb limited Abingdon to three hits, but once again a minimal amount of offense was enough to hand Carroll County a close loss, this time a 2-0 decision in a Southwest District game Tuesday at Bill Worrell Field.

NARROWS –– Galax finished its regular season with a bang Tuesday, outscoring Narrows 18-14 in a Mountain Empire District slugfest.

The Green Wave (7-10 overall, 1-6 district) took an 11-6 lead with an eight-run outburst in the bottom of the third, but Galax rallied into a 14-11 lead by scoring seven in the top of the fifth on base hits by Zach Robinson, Jacob Woodel, Thomas Shaffer, Brock Cox, Todd Nichols, Morgan Holder plus a two-run Tyler Houk double.

HILLSVILLE — While turning over forfeited money from the sale of illegal drugs to Carroll Sheriff Warren Manning, an assistant U.S. Attorney expressed satisfaction that something good could arise from something so bad.

RICHMOND — Improvements to a proposed connector road to the Hillsville bypass got a foot in the door of the state budget recently.

As their last official act before terms expired in December, four members of the Carroll Board of Supervisors asked the General Assembly to provide funding to connect U.S. 221 and Virginia 100 via Virginia 669.

They want it to be built at the same time as construction to widen U.S. 58 to four lanes on the south side of Hillsville.

HILLSVILLE — As a rule, Hillsville Town Council members don’t split on a vote very often, but they did Monday over a request for two 10-minute parking spaces.

The parking spaces on Court Street were requested by Council Member Greg Yonce, on behalf of the owners of Court Street Coffee Company.

Yonce also brought up the request Jan. 14 in the form of a motion to approve the 10-minute spaces, but at the time no other council member wanted to take up a vote and the motion died without a second.

For many high school students, finding the right college or career path — or just filling out a financial aid form — can be overwhelming.

But now, the Virginia Community College System provides high schools with career coaches to help students make future plans. Wytheville Community College offers the career coaches program throughout the area, including at Galax High School.

HILLSVILLE — Even as a bill to regulate puppy mills continues to make progress in the Virginia General Assembly, Carroll County officials charged a Hillsville dog breeder with multiple counts of animal cruelty and neglect.

Charges against Lanzie Carroll Horton Jr., also known as “Junior,” came Thursday as the result of covert video taken by animal advocates at Horton's Pups in Hillsville, one of the so-called “puppy mills.”

Additionally, an employee for Horton’s Pups was charged by warrant on Friday.

INDEPENDENCE — The man charged with three counts of capital murder at a Grayson County tree farm last month has drawn scrutiny from police in other cases.

According to Pennsylvania court documents, Frederick Phillip Hammer, 48, previously served prison time after being convicted of killing an off-duty Philadelphia police officer in 1978. Six years later, a judge ordered a new trial at which Hammer was acquitted of charges.